Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Irish parliament debating bill banning trade with Israeli settlements
The Dail, the lower house of Ireland’s parliament, is debating a bill that would criminalize trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Representing the government, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney says the bill may be well-intentioned but would only “provide temporary solace” to the Palestinians. Furthermore, there are legal and political problems with the bill, Coveney says.
The Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 has to take several additional legislative hurdles before it passes into law.
Israel has condemned the Irish parliament for advancing the bill, saying it distances prospects of peace.
— Raphael Ahren
